Rwanda, Sri Lanka sign defence and security cooperation deal

A delegation from Sri Lanka led by the Minister of State for Defence, Hon Ruwan Wijewardene is in Rwanda for final negotiations and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence and Security Cooperation.

The MoU was signed today at the Rwanda Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Kimihurura, by Rwanda's Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe and his counterpart from Sri Lanka, Hon Wijewardene in the presence of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba and officials from both parties.

The Rwanda Minister of Defence stressed that the MoU signing was a way of formalizing a steadily improving and focused cooperation between Rwanda and Sri Lanka which has been ongoing even without this legal framework. "This MoU between our two countries will help explore many more areas of cooperation between our Defence Forces".

After the MoU signature, Hon Wijewardene told the RDF press that he was delighted to be in Rwanda to seal this cooperation. “Sri Lanka and Rwanda have a lot to learn from each other as countries which encountered similar historical path and recovery. Above all, we are here to strengthen mutual cooperation between our two countries”, he added.

After signing of the MOU at Defence Headquarters, Sri Lanka Minister of State for Defence and his delegation headed to Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.